Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball player Nimo Benne has become the   athlete to be named a Canada West star of the week.
The first year outside hitter from Castricum, Netherlands was honored for his exploits during the week ending February 9, 2020. 
He was the Pack's leading offensive weapon as they swept a pair of games from the MacEwan Griffins.

Benne joins fellow WolfPack athletes James Fraser (Soccer, Penticton, BC), Justin Donaldson (Soccer, Kamloops, BC), Anton Bilous (Basketball, Cerkassy, Ukraine) and Kendra Finch (Volleyball, North Vancouver, BC)  to be chosen as a Canada West star of the week.

Fraser was a first star in week one (Sept 13) and second star in week three (Sept 17).  Donaldson was a second star in week eight (October 22).  Finch was a second star in week 11 (Nov 19) while Bilous was a third star in week 14 (Dec 3).

Here is this week's official release from Canada West headquarters:
 
EDMONTON – The conference's top wrestlers have claimed the Canada West first stars of the week.

Fraser Valley's Amarvir Atwal and Alberta's Haley Heffel earned the honours after being named Canada West's Outstanding Wrestlers at this weekend's conference championships in Calgary.
Atwal won the men's 76 kg division and subsequently became the second UFV Cascade in as many years to be named the event's top male wrestler, following in the footsteps of 2019 winner Brad Hildenbrandt.

Heffel earned the women's honour for her gold-medal performance in the 72 kg division. The fourth-year student dominated her two opponents, winning both matches via technical superiority.
The pair now move forward as the CW nominees for the U SPORTS Athletes of the Week.
  MEN'S THREE STARS
 
FIRST STAR: Amarvir Atwal

• Fraser Valley Cascades / Wrestling
• 2nd-year
• Surrey, B.C.
• Business Admin
• MEET LOG: Won gold in the men's 76 kg weight class at the Canada West Wrestling Championships in Calgary.

Amarvir Atwal of the University of the Fraser Valley wrestling program had a weekend to remember at the Canada West championships in Calgary.
The sophomore from Surrey, B.C. won gold in the men's 76 kilogram weight class, and he did so in spectacular fashion. Atwal pinned reigning CW champ Miles Kent of the Alberta Golden Bears in his final match of the round robin to secure a perfect 3-0 record, and he was subsequently voted the CW wrestling male athlete of the year. He becomes the second Cascade to win the award, following in the footsteps of last year's winner Brad Hildenbrandt.
Atwal and the Cascades now move on to the U SPORTS wrestling championships, Feb. 21-22 in St. Catharines, Ont.
SECOND STAR: OH - Nimo Benne

• Thompson Rivers WolfPack / Volleyball
• 1st-year
• Castricum, Netherlands
• Business
• GAME LOG: Friday, Feb. 8 – 24 kills, 10 digs in 3-2 win at MacEwan / Saturday, Feb. 9 – 17 kills, 6 digs in 3-1 win at MacEwan.

Nimo Benne may only be a rookie, but he's taken on veteran responsibilities for the TRU WolfPack volleyball team. This was evident this week as the Netherlands product was again his squad's leading offensive weapon in their valiant effort to sneak into the Canada West men's volleyball playoffs. 
Benne was not only there to provide key points, but was also had some defensive gems as the Pack swept MacEwan to stretch their win streak to four.
Thompson Rivers closes out the regular season this coming week against the defending national champion Trinity Western Spartans at the Tournament Capital Centre.
THIRD STAR: G - Jadon Cohee

• UBC Thunderbirds / Basketball
• 5th-year
• Langley, B.C.
• Unclassified
• GAME LOG: Friday, Feb. 8 – 25 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds in 97-85 win vs. Winnipeg / Saturday, Feb. 9 – 26 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds in 91-66 win vs. Winnipeg.

Leading all players on the court over the course of the weekend with 51 points, Jadon Cohee closed out his regular season Thunderbird career in style, helping lead UBC to the weekend sweep over the Winnipeg Wesmen. With the wins, UBC secured third in the CW standings and a bye through to the quarter-finals.
Surprising few, Cohee was once again an offensive force, shooting 58.1 percent from the field over the two games while making good on 44 percent of his three point attempts. He was also a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line 
Cohee finished the regular season fourth in total conference points with 381 while also leading the 'Birds in three-point percentage. 
The 'Birds will head to Calgary for the conference quarter-finals the weekend of February 21st and 22nd.